Industry Insights

The global artificial tendons and ligaments market size was estimated at USD 18.8 million in 2018 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 11.3% over the forecast period. Increasing incidence of sports injuries is the key factor driving the market. Most sports injuries result from accidents, improper equipment, poor training and practice, insufficient warm-up and stretching, and lack of conditioning. Ankle sprain, groin pull, hamstring strain, ACL tear, and tennis elbow are among the most common types of sports injuries observed among athletes.

Moreover, a significant percentage of people are unaware of sports-related safety measures, which can result in various moderate to severe injuries. According to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) statistics published by the Parliament of U.K., in 2016, there were an estimated 165,000 cases of sports-related injuries at England’s A&E departments.

Furthermore, increasing preference for minimally invasive surgeries, government initiatives pertinent to awareness about sports injuries, and advancements in surgical procedures will increase the adoption of synthetic tendons and ligaments for knee, ankle, and tendon reinforcement.

Autologous and allogenic grafts are associated with complications such as quadriceps weakness, tendon rupture, anterior knee pain, and loss of full extension. Thus, risks associated with autograft and allograft procedures have prompted the development of synthetic materials for ligament reconstruction. Players operating in the market, as well as various research organizations, are focusing on R&D activities to find a novel material that exhibits no immune reaction and possesses high tensile strength and abrasion resistance.

Researchers are also working to develop new synthetic ligament grafts that can integrate with native bones, stabilize the knee, and promote growth of new ligament tissues. For instance, in July 2017, scientists from Hokkaido University developed a bendable, tough, and fiber-reinforced hydrogel biomaterial that can endure everyday wear and tear. The team of scientists suggested that the material can be used as an artificial ligament, artificial tendon, or artificial organs. Hence, rising R&D activities are anticipated to keep this market at high growth trajectory.

Application Insights

The knee injuries segment is anticipated to hold a major share during the forecast period owing to growing incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries among athletes and sportspersons. Moreover, advances in techniques related to ACL reconstructions that make the procedure more effective will boost segment growth in the coming years.

The other applications segment includes hip dislocation, elbow injuries, and spinal injuries. The segment is anticipated to register significant growth owing to increase in total femoral tumor resections and prosthetic replacement procedures owing to their high success rate. NAJA and IntraSpine by Cousin Biotech, InternalBrace by Arthrex, LARS by Cousin Biotech are some of the key products under this segment.

Rising geriatric population is also anticipated to drive the segment. With growing age, conditions like weak bones and soft connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons as well as cartilage wear and tear pose a greater risk factor for development of knee-related injuries. According to WHO, in the following 40 years, the global population aged 85 years or more is expected to increase by 351% between 2010 and 2050, while the population aged 65 years and above will increase by 188% during the same time.

End-use Insights

By end use, the global artificial tendons and ligaments market was dominated by hospitals and clinics in 2018 and the segment is expected to exhibit stable growth throughout the forecast period. This can be attributed to higher readmission rate due to complications arising from surgical procedures and high volume of patient turnaround. In addition, supportive infrastructure, which helps in successful surgeries, will boost adoption of these grafts at hospitals and clinics end-use facilities.

Growing number of initiatives taken by governments to promote surgical facilities to improve healthcare effectiveness and provide quick results will further fuel the hospitals and clinics segment. Collaboration of key players and orthopedic clinics to create awareness about sports injuries and available treatments is another factor responsible for the major share captured by the segment.

The ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) segment is expected to grow at a lucrative rate throughout the forecast period owing to increased number of ankle and shoulder related surgeries performed in ASCs and hospital attached outpatient units. Moreover rising awareness regarding minimal invasive surgeries will fuel segment growth in the near future.

Regional Insights

Europe held a major share in the global market in 2018 owing to growing product adoption, coupled with high awareness about artificial grafts for treatment of various sports injuries. Moreover, presence of key players in the region will fuel the market. For instance, the Corin Group distributes LARS ligaments in U.K.; Xiros Ltd (U.K.) manufactures the Leeds-Keio ligament as well as the PatellarTape System and Jewel ACL products (under the brand name Neoligaments). Moreover, these players are focusing on expansion of distribution networks in the region, which is anticipated to improve product penetration.

Germany, France, and U.K. are the key markets in Europe and contributed to more than 60.0% of the revenue in 2018 due to rise in incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures on the backdrop of increased participation in sports activities. According to an article published in the Health Economics Review in 2017, an estimated 30,000 ACL ruptures are reconstructed in Germany every year, amounting to USD 129.61 million in hospital costs.

The market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. The market is driven by considerable research and developmental investments by key global market players as well as increasing awareness about the use of artificial tendons and ligaments for ACL procedures. Australia and Japan are well-established markets in the region while China and India are anticipated to register high growth over the forecast period.

In the current scenario, use of autologous, allogenic ligaments and tendons for orthopedic surgeries related to knee, ankle, and shoulder are preferred over synthetic grafts in U.S. Moreover, the LARS artificial ligament, which is widely preferred in Canada and European countries, is not approved by the U.S. FDA. Thus, upcoming product approvals on the backdrop of ongoing clinical trials are expected to provide a platform for growth of North America market over the forecast period.

Artificial Tendons and Ligaments Market Share Insights

Corin Group, Xiros Ltd (Neoligament), and Mathys AG Bettlach are the top players, who cumulatively held over 60.0% of the market in 2018. These companies are focusing on expanding their distribution networks and R&D facilities to increase geographical footprint and production capacity, thereby strengthening their position in the market. For instance, in June 2018, Corin established a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in U.K. This strategic initiative is anticipated to increase the company’s manufacturing and distribution capacity, further aiding its growth in the local as well as global market.

Emerging players such as Cousin Biotech, BioMed, and FX Solutions are focusing on fund raising activities to support R&D growth and product commercialization. These companies are participating in various conferences to showcase their products and expand their customer base. For instance, Orthomed participated in the 2017 SFA congress conference organized in Marseille as well as the GEM congress held in Paris to showcase its ‘LIGASTIC’ ligaments.

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Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2014 to 2025. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global artificial tendons and ligaments market report on the basis of application, end use, and region: